Prairie Path Books started last year as a series of book events in people's homes, but now it's an actual bookstore. On Monday, June 2, Prairie Path held its grand opening at a 1,500-square-foot space within Toms-Price Home Furnishings, 303 Front St., in Wheaton. Prairie Path owner Sandy Koropp says the furniture store's owner, Scott Price, is giving her the space rent-free. “My people would walk through his store, and he really liked that idea,” she says. Prairie Path will carry a diverse range of books and host book discussions, says Ms. Koropp, who is also a lawyer. “I think the world has enough lawyers and not enough bookstores, and while I can, I want to give that a go,” she says. “The magic of having someone say to you, 'What are you reading?' and 'Ooh, you have to read this' — that's the adrenaline that makes me go.” Her partner in the business is Heather Janiak.

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ClosingBid: Cliff Holmes, president of Magna Real Estate Ventures, launched this website on Monday, June 2, calling it “the world's only online, invitation-only sealed bidding platform for auctions on commercial and residential properties.” Sellers can invite as many as 12 bidders to offer bids for a property. Bidders don't know how much their rivals are offering — or even how many rivals they have. Property sellers set a minimum bid and how long the auction will last.

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SchoolRush aims to make it easier for schools to communicate with parents. “Sure, there are emails, backpack mail, newsletters and phone calls that are all sending out information, but it's practically a full-time job trying to make sense of it all,” founder Balu Kadiyala writes on his company's website. Schools that sign up to participate can use Mr. Kadiyala's app to send targeted notifications to parents of children in a specific class. The monthly fee for a school to participate is 50 cents per student. The app itself, which was released in April, is free. So far, one school is using the app — Holy Family Catholic Academy in Inverness — but Mr. Kadiyala says he is targeting several area Catholic schools to sign up before fall.

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Mind Your Muffin Co. This Chicago company says its all-natural muffins are healthy — low-carb, sugar-free and cholesterol-free — but also full of flavor with a moist texture. Founded last fall by Gina Lemke, Mind Your Muffin offers delivery service within Chicago and ships nationwide. Its most popular muffin is the lemon poppy, made with lemon zest, apples and almond milk. The company also sells snacks called “Cave Bites,” which are gluten- and grain-free.

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PhD Pub, a tavern and beer garden serving cocktails and craft brews, recently opened at 1257 S. Halsted St. in University Village Marketplace. The pub has a “bring your own food” option and it offers small parties access to its outdoor grills. The owners are Mike Dyra (formerly of Marble and Cleo's) and Marc Romano (formerly of Gilligan's and Thurston's).

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Assemble in Old Town

Other new businesses on the scene:Alton Lane, a New York company selling premium custom clothing for men, opened its first Chicago showroom on Saturday, May 31, at 49 E. Oak St . . . Assemble is a co-working space (pictured) scheduled to open Aug. 1 in a loft space at 1165 N. Clark St. in Old Town, including shared work areas and 50 private offices. Prices start at $450 for month-to-month leases . . . Based in Lake Zurich, Exercise Coach has 22 franchises around the country including nine in Chicago's suburbs — but until now, it hasn't had one in the city itself. A new location is set to open by July at 1015 W. Webster Ave. in Lincoln Park, with two more planned in the city soon. Founded by Brian Cygan and his wife, Gerianne, Exercise Coach says it help people get fit with just two 20-minute sessions per week. Jude Duffy and his wife, Rita, will run the Lincoln Park facility.